My father left us. Most of the clan returned back to their daily activates. The dead would be buried that evening, after the ancestral rights had been performed. The captives would be ransomed back to their clan. That only left Kitty Hawk.
I watched her, her face betraying her inner thoughts as my father’s words took hold. She went from confusion, to comprehension, then to fear and terror as the simple truth set in: that she would never see her family again.
She fled in tears.
I found her in my hut. She lay with her face pressed into my mattress. She shuttered and sobbed, her wails muffled by the cloth. An ever increasing wet spot radiated away from her.
Not knowing what else to do, I lightly brushed her mane.
“Kitty Hawk?” My voiced cracked as I said her name. There was no way I could be crying too. Just something in my eye.
“Don’t touch me," she screamed. I withdrew my paw.
I heard Kitty Hawk’s stomach growl. Mine answered in almost the same instant. Neither of us had eaten anything all day.
“Do you want some food,” I ventured weakly. I wasn’t hungry, but my body disagreed. Kitty Hawk didn’t answer. I looked dejectedly at the floor.
Was this really it? Just wait until tomorrow, and march her off to the capital?
I would go to my father. Maybe we could come to some agreement were Kitty Hawk could stay.
“Kitty Hawk….I’ll figure something out, I promise.”
"Don't make promises that you can't keep,” she screamed at me, before slamming her face back into the mattress.
I left her there.
The chieftain's hut was the biggest in the village; of course it also doubled as the meeting room for the elders, and the temple to the ancestors.
I approached the hut wearily. Was there a way to talk him out of selling Kitty Hawk? I could give regular payments to the clan, and keep Kitty Hawk. I could never achieve Kitty Hawk’s full price, even with two life times. There had to be a solution. The thought of her serving the Emperor the rest of her life was insufferable.
And then there was my promise to her.
No use delaying any longer. I reached for the door flap. It was opened by two armored soldiers. I hopped aside and let them pass.
Between the soldier hung a resigned Silver Tongue. He was wearing only a neutral expression, but when he saw me he smiled. He opened his mouth to say something, but one of the soldiers growled. He closed it again. They led him away in the direction of the prison.
Next, the Elders emerged. Most seemed not to notice me. Those who did glared at me out of the corner of their eye. Elder Rose was the last to emerge. She looked at me coolly and left.
My father was reading a sheet of paper when I enter, but put it aside when he say me.
“Dad,” I said, “I would like to talk to you about the pony.”
He looked around the hut and saw that we were alone. He motioned for me to have a seat on a cushion. He himself stretched out on a small mattress. I heard several joints pop as he did so.
I never realized how old my father looked until now. There was grey hair around his muzzle and scattered sporadically through his coat. His muscles looked less firm than I remembered from my puppy years. In some places the skin was hanging loose from his body, as it there was too much of it. There was a weariness in his voice as he spoke, devoid of its usual fierce command and authority.
“It is just the two of us. Speak freely my son.”
“Dad, if its a matter of jewels, I’m sure I can find a way to pay the clan—”
My father waved away my words.
“You could sell the pony for one jewel, and it wouldn't make a difference to me. The problem is that that slave is the most valuable item in this village. Other clans will be tempted to raid, us just to get her, as what happened last night. By keeping her here you are endangering the entire clan.”
I started to object but stopped.
My father smiled weakly. He stood up, and came to lie beside me. He placed a paw on my shoulder.
“You are the only pup your mother gave me. In many ways you are just like her: caring, compassionate, and kind. You also inherited my fierceness and skill as a warrior. Go on my son, get rid of her as you see fit.”
As I made to leave the hut, my father said one more thing, and I suddenly wished that last night an enemy’s spear had found its mark.
“One day, you will replace me as chieftain of the Firebrand Clan. Make me proud, my son.”
I left the hut, unable to look my father in the eye.
It was impossible to keep Kitty Hawk. There would be no waiting until her wing healed. She was too valuable. Twelve clansmen had already died on her behalf. How many more would follow if she stay?
I smiled halfheartedly when I found the solution. I didn’t want it to be so, and yet I knew it was the only way. To uphold my promise, to make sure that she saw her parents again, I needed to personally get Kitty Hawk home.
I needed to leave the village.
If I was going to take Kitty Hawk back we would need food, shelter, supplies. To get her back to “Equestria” would take a week if not more.
I creeped through the village, trying not to look suspicious. Go to the kitchens, get some supplies, and leave the village; just a normal day.
I peaked inside the community kitchens and didn’t see anyone. I slipped into the pantry. I started to fill an empty sack with dried sausages, but stopped. I would also need room for Kitty Hawks grains. Plus, we might not be near the river the whole time, so we would needed water skins. If we were to have any chance of reaching Equestria I needed a traveling pack.
“What are you doing Ember?”
I nearly leaped out of skin.
I turned to face Elder Rose, putting on my best smile. Several other dogs had entered the kitchens with her.
“Um, getting lunch,” I suggested. Her eyes traveled to the sack I was filling with food.
She advanced on me. “You wouldn’t be thinking of doing anything rash, now would you?”
“No, absolutely not,” I said quickly; too quickly.
“Good,” she said, narrowing her eyes, “because you should be giving that pony ready for market. Right? You should go down to the river and give her a bath.”
Was that a wink I saw?
“Er, yes, I’m right on it,” I said, squeezing past Elder Rose. Her eyes followed all the way to the door.
I breathed easier once I was outside. Unfortunately there was nowhere left to go but back to the hut.
Going down to the river sounded very appealing right now. I really needed to get out get out of the village. I needed room to think.
I entered the hut. Kitty Hawk hadn’t moved. I padded over to her.
“Come on,” I said, “let’s go down to the river.”
“No,” she moaned.
“Let’s go,” I pressed.
“No,” she repeated.
I picked her up.
She fought me; biting and kicked with all her might. Her screams were greater than those for the dead, making me cringe as they assaulted my ears. She hit me, again and again, until she had no strength left. Finally she subsided and sunk into my arms, her tears wetting my fur.
We left by the west gate; Kitty Hawk still cradled in my arms.The gate guards eyed me suspiciously, but made no move to stop us. I carried her down to the waters edge.
I sat down in the shallows with Kitty Hawk on my lap. I splashed water over top of her. She gasped at the cold water, but still said nothing.
Slowly, gently, I washing away the accumulated dust and grime from her coat. I didn’t know how to wash her wings so I left them alone. When I was done, I once again held a white pony.
I placed her in a sunny spot on the grass to dry. Plunging back into the river, I swam out into the lazy current, and then back several times. Finally I pulled myself from the river, and shook myself dry.
Kitty Hawk had stopped crying. Instead she stared blankly out over the river, to the north-east, in the direction of her home.
A rustling of the bushes announces an approaching Diamond Dog.
Elder Rose stepped out; across her back was Kitty Hawk’s saddle pack. She dumped the pack at my feet.
She saw my confused look. “What? You think I want to see Kitty Hawk sold to the Emperor any more than you do?”
I peaked into the bags: two large bags of food, a knife, a blanket, my sword and corresponding belt, fire starter, small cooking pot, a small bag of jewels, two water skins, and my sling. I looked back at her in amazement.
“But, I thought you...” I started.
She smiled at me. “Get going you two. Best to cross the river. The clan won’t pursue you once you cross into enemy territory. Don’t let the contents of the bag get wet.”
“Thank you,” was all I muster.
Kitty was watching us, her eyes growing wide. Suddenly she leapt up and threw herself onto Elder Rose, smothering her with “thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Elder Rose ruffled her mane. “Get going,” she said, kissing Kitty Hawk on the head, and then vanished.
I looked across the river to the far bank. This is it then; no turning back now.
“Can you swim,” I asked Kitty Hawk.
“No,” answered Kitty Hawk, looking slightly panicked.
She clung to my back as I paddled across the river. I asked if she was scared. She bravely answered no. Her trembling body said otherwise. As soon as we reach land she jumped off, and kissed the ground.
I started back for the pack. Just as I emerged out of the river, the bushes rustled once again. Rod stepped forth. Spoke was at his side.
We looked at one another in surprise.
“Ember,” said Spoke, “we’ve been looking all over for you. The Elders want to see you and the pony, immediately”. He looked at the saddle pack before me. “What’s with the pack? Going some where?”
“He is leaving us,” state Rod. He was looking past me to the far bank.
“Leaving us, but why?” Spoke had a pained look on his face.
“Go,” I commanded, “tell my father what I’ve done.”
“We can’t talk you out of this, can we,” asked Rod.
I shook my head.
“But, but, but,” Spoke stammered.
“Come! Our duty is to the clan. They must be informed.” Rod turned and left. Spoke, his face still a torrent of sadness and pain, gazed at me one more time before he reluctantly followed.
I’ll miss you, I wanted to say but instead swallowed my words. I turned and plunged into the river; the saddle bag held up high.
I emerged on the other side. The saddle pack was perfectly dry.
I fitted the saddle back onto my back, readjusting its position until it sat comfortably.
“Ready to go home,” I asked Kitty Hawk.
“Yep,” she said, the worlds biggest smile on her face.
We started off, following the river. Kitty Hawk was skipping along beside me.
“I can’t wait for you to meet my parents,” she said. “We live in this beautifully little house, and then theres the garden, and my mom makes the best carrot stew...”
Home; maybe if I didn’t look back I wouldn’t cry.
A wailing howl sounded from somewhere behind us.
"What is it?" asked Kitty Hawk.
"My father," I said solemnly.
I turned, and face my father across the distance. I howled my reply. I love you Dad. Have faith, I shall return.